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MSP HAILS EARLY YEARS EXPANSION IMPACT

MSP for the Angus South Constituency, Graeme Dey, has welcomed new figures revealing the initial impact of Scottish Government funding for extra early learning and childcare hours.

More than 46,000 children across Scotland are already benefiting from additional hours of high-quality care, almost a year before the full roll out of 1,140 funded hours for every eligible child.

By August next year, children will be eligible for more funded hours of early learning and childcare than ever before – and families will have more choice over how they access those hours.

The new statistics show that a third of three and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds are already accessing more than the minimum 600 hours to which they are currently entitled.

The figures also reveal that:

214 nurseries have been built, extended or refurbished since March 2018

the number of three to five-year-olds receiving more than 600 hours is 6.6% ahead of forecast

capacity for 1,140 hours in local authority nurseries is 2.8% ahead of forecast

the private sector will make a larger contribution than previously forecast, up 4% to 26%

overall, all indicators are broadly in line with or ahead of the forecast national position, albeit with significant variability at a local level

COSLA said that local authorities were working hard to ensure effective implementation of the “bold and ambitious” policy of expansion.

Commenting, Mr Dey said:

“These figures show very encouraging progress towards the near-doubling of funded early learning and childcare hours in Scotland – worth up to £4,500 per child every year, and offering parents and carers more flexibility to explore work, education or training opportunities.

“The Scottish Government’s £2 billion programme – the most generous early years offer in the UK – is already seeing more than a third of eligible children access expanded childcare, with nearly half of the additional staff needed now in post.

“From August 2020, all three and four-year-olds in Angus South and across the country are set to benefit, along with around a quarter of Scotland’s two-year-olds.

“The next ten months will see a major effort to deliver this full rollout as planned – the SNP Scottish Government recognising the critical importance of the early years in children’s development and therefore in closing the attainment gap.”